- Target:
- Hobsons Bay Council & Parks Victoria
- Region:
- Australia
Many thanks to everyone who joined in to preserve the Altona Dog Beach... It has been a fabulous success. Below is a transcript of a message from Mayor Tony Briffa which speaks for itself. If anyone would like to join "Friends of the Altona Dog Beach" Facebook page, just search it in facebook and send a request to join...... Happy dog walking.
Cheers, Tracey
From Tony Briffa:
Hello everyone. Since last weekend I have spoken with one of the leading kite boarders in the area and have discussed the issues at the Altona Doggy Beach with him. I think he was satisfied with the discussions and hopefully the situation at the Altona Doggy Beach will now be resolved. If there are one-off kite boarders that turn up at the Doggy Beach, please let me know. I will do what I can to continue to work with them to ensure they respect the allocated area and maintain the Doggy Beach as a special area dedicated to those of us that love our dogs and want to give them a great area to enjoy our beach.
I've also discussed the situation with the council officers (both in recreation and local laws enforcement) and we're keeping an eye on it. Any kite surfers setting up or accessing the beach in an area not designated for kite surfing will be fined. We'll also continue to liaise with Parks Victoria about the safe and appropriate types of activities on the water, and ways they enforce them.
On another note, the Altona Doggy Beach is part of the area included in area we're proposing to develop a draft Altona and Seaholme Foreshore Master Plan in the next few months. That process will involve significant community consultation and I would love you and your family and friends to provide feedback on what you would like to see council do to improve the Altona Doggy Beach in the coming years. The master plan is a long term look at works along the foreshore so it will take some years to implement, but the council is allocating significant dollars each year to our foreshore to ensure the works will happen. I look forward to reading your input!
Kindest regards,
Tony Briffa
P.S. My new look Community Update is coming out in the next few weeks. To subscribe and stay in the loop with local issues, visit my website.
The Altona Dog Beach was has been a haven for dog walkers and Families alike for as long as I have been a resident, 6 years.
It has been a beautiful, peaceful spot where you could have enjoyed the sheer joy of the space, views of the City in the distance and the fabulous bird-life.
This Summer (2011-2012) the kite borders have moved in, some of them giving private lessons on a public beach. They have already overrun the Geelong Side of Altona Beach, and no room left there, they have moved to The Altona Dog Beach.
All of them are in breach of current legislative laws governing proximity to beach, speeds travelled and launching.
Facebook group link:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/170885263014227/?profile_pic_upload=1&success=1#!/groups/170885263014227/
We the undersigned request that Hobsons Bay Council and Parks Victoria restrict access of The Altona Dog Beach and water to Kite Borders.
The Altona Beach on the Geelong side of the pier is already a popular destination for Kite Borders, and we believe that The Dog Beach should be protected from becoming inundated with water craft.
Kite Borders are currently interfering with the bird-life by frightening them away from the area. They are restricting access to the beach for some dog walkers because dogs are either afraid of them or want to chase them. They travel dangerously close to the shoreline at high speeds and are in that case a public liability threat.
They have the potential to completely change the dynamics of the designated Dog Beach and if left unchecked will potentially overrun the beach as they have already done on the Altona Foreshore.
Sincerely
The Save The Altona Dog Beach petition to Hobsons Bay Council & Parks Victoria was written by Tracey and is in the category Local Government at GoPetition.